Iranian troops cross border into Kurdistan Region: parties

The Iranian military parades missiles past a portrait of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a ceremony for the country's annual army day in April in Tehran. Photo: Atta Kenare/AFP

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian troops have crossed the border into the Kurdistan Region amid a build up of forces along the frontier, say Iranian Kurdish parties. A local mayor, however, said Iranian forces have not yet stepped into Kurdistan Region territory.

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) confirmed the development and reported Iranian forces amassing at the border.

"The Islamic Republic has made preparations on the border areas sending 150, 300, and 400 member teams," PDKI leadership member Khalid Wanawsha told Rudaw, adding that troop deployments are ongoing.

Iran fired seven surface-to-surface missiles over the border on Saturday, hitting the headquarters of PDKI and KDP-I, killing 17 and wounding more than 40, including members of the leadership who had gathered for meetings.

The missiles followed a week of artillery shelling by Iran that forced hundreds of villagers to flee their homes and sparked fires that burned hundreds of acres of farmlands.

"According to information we have obtained, an armed force was moved towards the heights of Kalishin and behind Sidakan," Wanawsha said, adding troops were sent in 15 groups.

Kalishin is located on the Kurdistan Region side of the border, 115km northeast of Erbil.

The Iranian forces are backed by helicopters and "brought with them a large amount of advanced weapons like missiles and katyusha," said Wanawsha.

The forces have "stationed missiles in some areas," Fuad Khaki, head of KDP-I's public relations department, told Rudaw.

"The amassing of this huge force is to fortify the borders and prevent any military operation by the East [Iranian] Kurdistan political parties," he added.

There have not yet been any reported clashes between in the infiltrating forces and Kurdish opposition parties or Kurdistan Region Peshmerga and Sidakan mayor Ihsan Chalabi said the Iranians have not crossed the border.

Wanawsha slammed the Iranian troop movement as "an outright violation of the sovereignty of the Kurdistan Region."

He appealed to the KRG and regional countries to intervene with the Iranian government and pressure Tehran to end its aggression against the Kurdish parties.

Kurdish parties have resumed their armed struggle against the Islamic Republic in recent years. They are seeking greater political and cultural rights for Kurds in Iran.

Is the rest of Puk going to stand for this betrayal by you know whom? Is there not a single person amongst them with the balls to put a few bullets into those who let the enemy inside our border? Is your oil and booze smuggling that precious to you all?

Iran's recent moves from missiles to troop movements are in clear violation of UNSC 598 resolution and ceasefire. Iran's recent violations of the 598 (acknowledged by IRGC) is also putting an end to its 1 Trillion $ legal claims for compensation based on 598. Members of UNSC should intervene to hold Iran accountable and put it under chapter 7 for its breach of peace and its aggression.

Iran/Syria attacks Idlib with permission of Turkey (or at least Turkey not interfering)... as gratitude... Iran attacks PKK positions in Iraq... PKK is looking for new routes after Turkish forces closed more or less all their previous routes to Turkey and kicked them out off "liberated PKK areas"... seems like PKK started to apply new tactics by crossing from Qandil to Iran... from Iran to Armenia... and from Armenia to Turkey... has to be recognised smart idea by PKK... hence, likely the Turks made a deal with Iran... Iranians will stop PKK activity at their borders... Turkey will renounce on a big peace of Idlib... Turkey saves face... Iran & Russia & Assad get what they want...